South East Water’s work to lay a new water main in West Street has suffered a setback, after workmen were unable to locate the pipe they were there to replace.

Residents in West Street have bemoaned a lack of action in the first week of the proposed 14-week road closure – and it seems workmen are frustrated too, blaming a lack of advance ‘scoping work’ for not being able to locate the water main.

South East Water has since blamed the hold-up on its “slightly inaccurate” historical records – but says the main has now been located, and work is ready to get under way.

Jeremy Dufour, South East Water project manager, said: “Our team had planned to carry out the first customer connection on January 25. This is where we connect the new water pipe to our existing water network.

“The historical records of our underground network of pipes, which spans more than 9,000 miles in total, was slightly inaccurate and the connection point was not where we had anticipated.

“The connection point has now been located and work to prepare and complete the connection will begin in due course.”

The mishap has led a West Street resident and borough councillor to criticise South East Water’s handling of the £1.3 million water main laying project.

Despite expecting a large workforce to complete the job quickly and minimise disruption to the town, Councillor George Hesse (Farnham Residents, Farnham Castle) says only two small holes were dug in five days and work stopped over the weekend.

The road closure, which came into force on Monday, January 23, has severely impacted local businesses, especially West Street News, and no compensation is being offered despite the near-complete loss of passing trade.

“It was so bad during the week that the owner Anand Patel had to give away perishable food he couldn’t sell,” writes Cllr Hesse in a letter to the Herald, to be printed in full in tomorrow's Herald print edition.

Cllr Hesse added a Clancy Docwra road worker expressed frustration at the delays, suggesting South East Water “haven’t undertaken adequate scoping work”.

He said to minimise further disruption, South East Water should install traffic lights and keep one lane of West Street open. But South East Water has ruled out this approach for safety reasons.

Mr Dufour, project manager, added: “Road closures like the one in West Street are always a last resort and we will always use temporary traffic lights where possible.

“However, due to the location of the pipe and other utilities in the road, the only way we can guarantee the safety of the public and our workforce is by closing West Street to passing traffic. Access to homes and businesses is still being maintained at all times.

“We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

The major water upgrade will see no through traffic between Farnham town centre and Coxbridge roundabout until late April. The closures will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are split into three phases – see here for more information.